West Central Reporter

The Western Illinois Women's Leatherneck Basketball team faced a narrow defeat against Little Rock, ending with a score of 65-60 at Western Hall on Thursday night. The Leathernecks had a promising start, leading 17-13 after the first quarter with significant contributions from Allie Meadows and Raegan McCowan. Meadows scored 13 points, including three three-pointers, while McCowan led the team with 16 points and six rebounds. Addi Brownfield also made an impact by securing a career-high of 14 rebounds alongside her 10 points, achieving a double-double.

Little Rock's aggressive defense and quick transition game were pivotal in their victory. They capitalized on WIU's turnovers, converting 24 turnovers into 30 points.

The match was competitive throughout, featuring six ties and five lead changes. WIU maintained a slight advantage with a 31-28 lead midway through the third quarter. However, Little Rock surged ahead with a strong fourth-quarter performance scoring 23 points.

Despite out-rebounding Little Rock 39-29 and scoring 12 second-chance points, WIU struggled to manage Little Rock's pressure effectively. Even though they shot efficiently from the free-throw line (19-of-24), the turnover issues were detrimental to their success.

Looking ahead, WIU is set to host SEMO on Saturday with the game scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

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